49ERS QB BROCK PURDY WILL GET WEEK 18 OFF AND SAM DARNOLD WILL START AGAINST THE RAMS

Quarterback Brock Purdy will sit out the San Francisco 49ers' regular-season finale after the team already wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFL playoffs. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Sam Darnold will start in place of Purdy on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams with nothing at stake for San Francisco (12-4) in the game. The Niners clinched the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye when they beat Washington last week and Philadelphia lost to Arizona. San Francisco will play its first playoff game at home in the divisional round on Jan. 20 or 21. Shanahan said he hasn't decided how much to use other key starters in Sunday's game, having only decided on Purdy. Shanahan said Purdy and Darnold will split practice time Wednesday, with Darnold getting the bulk of the work with the first team on Thursday.

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